The third home game in five days, the fifth game in eight days. Horror programme? No, if striker Grégory Hofmann has his way: “I’d much rather play than train!”. For Leonardo Genoni, too, the synchronised game rhythm is more of an opportunity than a burden. “It gives us a new opportunity to correct mistakes and do better,” says the goalkeeper. Especially in the current phase with zero wins in the new year and a goal difference of 5:19.

The good performance in the CHL semi-final first leg’s last period against Swedish champions Lulea Hockey should also provide additional motivation: On Tuesday evening, the EVZ earned a 2:3 draw to set up a starting position for the second leg next Tuesday, which keeps their chances of reaching the final intact. However, the Zug team will clearly have to do more next week in northern Sweden.

Of the previous duels between Zug and the Bianconeri, both teams have won one each. In each case, the away team won by a one-goal margin. The last encounter in the OYM hall at the end of November was particularly devastating for Leonardo Genoni – after a collision with former team-mate Dario Simion, the 39-year-old had to leave the game early and subsequently missed several games.

In view of the fact that Genoni has played in the last five games and also made a partial appearance against Lausanne, Tim Wolf is likely to stand between the posts on Wednesday. The next home game against HC Ajoie is on Friday, before the team travels to Geneva on Saturday for an away game, from where it heads to northern Sweden on Sunday. After the semi-final second leg in Lulea on Tuesday, the team returns to Zug on Wednesday.